2018

Newsroom

Bethune-Cookman University Ranked in the Top 20 Best Historically Black Colleges and Universities with Online Programs

Onlinecollegeplan.com has ranked B-CU the 5th Best HBCU Online Program out of twenty HBCUs located in the U.S. According to onlinecollegeplan.com, the ranking criteria were chosen because a high-quality and flexible educational program is one of the strongest indicators of a school’s capabilities of producing excellence in students. Selected schools were ranked based on a 50% quality of education and flexibility. B-CU Global Online College offers eleven (11) degree programs, including three masters and eight bachelors. Since 2015, the B-CU Global Online College has cultivated 100% online undergraduate and graduate students while maintaining a healthy 85% retention rate.

Within the evolving landscape of higher education, B-CU Global Online College has implemented methodologies that will impact online instruction for the future. Dr. Arletha McSwain, Dean of The Online College shared how they have continued to build their success. “We recently completed the National Accreditation and Equivalency Council of the Bahamas (NAECOB) application to offer online degrees and courses which is pending approval,” she said. “This addition to the online college serve as a model intended to broaden online offerings to other countries,” Dr. McSwain explained. The online college has doubled their enrollment, exceeded the 2017 summer online target of 100 students and enrolled 632 students to date.

Other accomplishments of the B-CU Global Online College include its accreditation certification by The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA); recognition and rankings by Onlinecolleges.com; Collegechoice.net; and the U.S. News and World Report just to name a few. “In just as short of six months, we have executed several innovative marketing strategies that have enhanced our online infrastructure and programming,” said Dr. Gale Gibson Gayle, Associate Vice President and Dean of University College. “We have implemented an 8-week Summer module and a 4-week Winter Intersession which will allow students more opportunities to take courses and accelerate their degree completion. Communication strategies such as Robo-calling / Voice Blasts and SMS / Text messaging have bolstered online student engagement which has increased our enrollment.”

Office of Communications

About Bethune Cookman University:

Founded in 1904 by Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) today sustains her legacy of faith, scholarship and service through its relationship with the United Methodist Church and its commitment to academic excellence and civic engagement. B-CU offers 38 degrees on its main campus and online college. Located in Daytona Beach, B-CU is one of three private, historically black colleges in the state of Florida. The institution boasts a diverse and international faculty and student body of nearly 4,000. For more information, visit www.cookman.edu.